Multimedia Special:The Silicon Valley Story As Told By Immigrant Elders

This multi-media project, Arriving and Becoming, is a collection of articles, videos, and photography produced by De-Bug media-makers on the immigrant elders of their communities. It is an effort to cross generations, borders, and languages to explore our collective Silicon Valley reality.

Silicon Valley is the destination of families from all over the world. And oftentimes, Silicon Valley immigrant families live in two realities here – the intimate, familial one lived in the language of their homeland, and the public, American one. Our immigrant cities of the Valley exist in a uniquely isolated diversity – many ethnicities and communities living amongst each other, yet not fully knowing of each other’s experiences, memories, hopes, and fears. Surely, our neighborhoods are full of families who speak different languages, eat different foods, pray to different gods – yet share the same bus, and take the same roads when walking their children to school.

Immigrants of all backgrounds and ages come to the San Jose Flea Market to sell their goods to survive and create their own American Dream -- to be their own boss. Commentator Manuel Rocha shares his story of working at the Flea Market as a young man, selling shoulder to shoulder with elders from around the globe. Photos also by Stephanie Flores, Jesus Medina, and video editing by Fernando Perez.

Chinese immigrants Jimmy and Lucy share their tale of coming to America with next to nothing, how they were taught to make burritos from Mexican immigrants, and their "second home" Peking House Restaurant where they serve the San Jose community -- from longtime regular costumers to homeless in the area. Video produced by Stephanie Flores and Jesus Medina.

A generation of MC's (Malcolm Lee, Cola, Ookie) pay tribute to the immigrant elders that make the Bay Area the diverse community that it is. Touring the viewers through San Jose streets, they "arrive" at the places where immigrant elders work and bring a piece of their homelands cultural flavor.

Photographer and author Tiburon tells one of his childhood stories, remembering an Indian ice cream vendor who would come to his neighborhood. Along the way they formed a connection through similarities of their original homelands of Mexico and India.

As part of a multimedia series called "Arriving and Becoming: The Silicon Valley Story as Told by Immigrant Elders", San Jose Spoken Word Artist, Yosimar Reyes writes about his grandfather in this piece "Mi Viejito" teaming up with Jean Melesaine with visuals of his words.

As part of a multimedia series called "Arriving and Becoming: The Silicon Valley Story as Told by Immigrant Elders", Stephanie Flores tells the story of struggle and happiness of her mother through a powerful photo essay and a moment of shopping.

As part of an on going multimedia series called "Arriving and Becoming: The Silicon Valley Story as Told by Immigrant Elders", Octavio Martinez tells the story of hearing his mother talk about coming to America to work hard in hopes to return to her homeland saying, "I can't die here."

As part of De-Bug's series covering the experience of immigrant elders, Adrian Avila tells the story of a former kingpin that he came across and the positive inspiration that came from what one would call a "bad guy".